How To Remove Sediment from a Water Heater Chapel Hill NC

All water that enters into a water heater contains natural minerals of some kind. Heating the water causes the minerals to separate and fall to the bottom of the tank. Usually this sediment build-up is made of calcium carbonate. One sign of sediment build-up is a sulfur (or rotten-egg) smell around your water heater. With gas water heaters, sediment problems may cause the entire heater to become noisy while on.

In gas water heaters, sediment rests on the burner plate inside the tank; the burner plate sits directly over the flame underneath the tank. Sediment on the burner plate inhibits the transfer of heat to the water, so it takes longer to heat the same amount of water. Sediment also traps the heat underneath it which can cause the glass lining—found in every water heater tank—to melt once it reaches 160 F. The metal at the bottom of the burner plate can also warp due to the excess heat. Either of these problems can lead to leaks.

In electric water heaters, sediment can cover the lower heating element, which causes a significant drop in the amount of hot water the water heater can produce.

1. Bacteria problems in water heaters. Another problem associated with sediment build-up is bacterial growth inside the tank. The bacteria in water heaters are not the typical disease-causing bacteria. Rather bacteria problems in water heaters lead to a corrosion of the water heater tank lining through oxygenation. The sediment build-up itself, combined with the added bacterial problems, can cause serious damage to a water heater.

   The odor of sulfur or rotten-eggs around a water heater is a symptom of bacterial problems. This odor should not be confused with that of a potential natural gas leak in gas water heaters, which may have a similar smell. Either problem is serious; they should be repaired immediately. ...

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Author: John Haynes